Readers' Letters | The legislature, car owners, guns

Blame the legislature

Thank you for your April 5 article on Seven Counties Services' attempts to address the Kentucky Retirement Systems' (KRS) funding shortfall. The most important information, however was buried on the back page and may have been missed by your readers.

This mess is not Seven Counties' President Tony Zipple's fault, nor is it the fault of KRS officials. Blame should be placed squarely on Kentucky legislators who have robbed the retirement system of the state's share of its funding. This has gone on for years and has been done so that the legislators like their counterparts in Washington can continue to get elected by delivering low tax rates while postponing the inevitable day when the bill comes due.

More importantly, now the politicians are conspiring to allow the burden of their irresponsible behavior to be borne by the employees of Seven Counties, other government employees and most tragically those who rely on state funding for critical mental health and addiction services. Anyone paying attention saw this coming years ago. The solution is as it has always been, full funding of the state's retirement system including all back payments with interest. If this means higher taxes, then so be it. Taxpayers have elected the legislators who created this mess as they vote for anyone with a low tax pledge and a buy now/pay later mentality. We should be the ones to pay this bill, grow up and be more careful who we vote for in the future.

CHARLIE BAKER

Louisville 40204 -

Persecuting car owners

The following reply came to me from Sen. Mitch McConnell in response to my request that he support legislation which would require background checks for (firearms) purchases, registration and other provisions for safeguarding the lives of our citizens:

"The solution to gun violence does not lie in the persecution and harassment of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen, but rather in the effective prosecution of criminals."

Using this same logic, should we feel "persecuted and harassed" because current law requires that we go annually to the Marion County Courthouse to renew our automobile registrations? And that we bring with us the required proof of insurance so we can renew the registration?

MARY MARTHA MUELLER

Nerinx, Ky. 40049 -

Be honest on guns

I wish our elected representatives would stop hiding behind the Second Amendment. Neither universal background checks nor an assault weapons ban challenge the Second Amendment. If you are going to fight passage of either of these laws, please be honest about your reasons. Here are three options to use if you like, any of which work for me.

1. I really like guns and believe there should not be any limits on who can own what.

2. I would vote for reasonable gun control laws, but am afraid of the NRA.

3.The money the NRA donates to my campaign is too important.

Just be honest about your reasons! Our Constitution and the Bill of Rights are too important to use as a catch all excuse.

KEN BERRY

Louisville 40202 -

No free pass

Letter writer and retired minister Bob Russell should thank Marc Murphy. Provocative political cartoons reflect some of America's most cherished values, such as freedom of thought and freedom of expression. It is because of these values that Bob Russell has the right to practice his religion freely and without fear. Other people have the same right to challenge his beliefs. Religion does not get a free pass.

SUSANNAH WOODCOCK

Louisville 40207 -

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Readers' Letters | The legislature, car owners, guns

Thank you for your April 5 article on Seven Counties Services' attempts to address the Kentucky Retirement Systems' (KRS) funding shortfall. The most important information, however was buried on the